Vanguard claims county flag football title

Vanguard’s Chelsi Ruth (4) breaks away for a touchdown during the first half of the Girls Flag Football Championship on Saturday at West Port High School.

Lisa Crigar/Correspondent

By John PattonCorrespondent

Published: Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, April 21, 2013 at 2:31 a.m.

When the flag football season began two months ago, Vanguard coach John Miller told his team the goal was to win the Marion County championship. Often unspoken, but always there, was a desire for the Knights to prove they belonged in a district, capable of eventually competing for an FHSAA state title.

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Both dreams became reality on a late-April Saturday afternoon that had cold and wet weather conditions resembling a Friday night in mid-October. There, VHS defeated Forest 35-28, host West Port 40-0 and then Belleview 18-0 to claim the 2013 county championship.

And soon after the title victory against the Rattlers, the Knights were informed they would be members of a district in 2014.

"The girls did this," Miller said. "They sacrificed and did everything we asked of them every single day. They never stopped wanting it and working for it.

"I'm so proud of them."

Miller had a definite plan in place for Vanguard this year. It included a trip to powerful Ocoee, where the Knights played hard, but lost rather decisively. However, on that day, lessons were learned from strategies like always have a strong option and passing game to subtleties like stretching out the football as your flag is being pulled to get the most yardage possible.

And as the season progressed, so did the Knights.

They finished 10-2 and, according to point-guard-turned-quarterback Alex Wilhlem, was a group as memorable for its togetherness as for its success.

"I played four years of varsity basketball, but I can honestly say, this team was more like a family than any other I've been on," said Wilhelm, who had a 1-yard run and a 22-yard pass to Jamey Thomas for touchdowns against BHS. "I'm so happy to have been a part of it."

Miller added that a great part of that unity comes from a defense he said "made our offense better each practice", adding "offense may get more attention, but our defense is as much of a reason we won as anything."

Senior cornerback Kalaia Allen proved to be a prime example of "unselfishness" Miller spoke of when she talked about the future of the program.

"I won't be here to play in it, but I'm glad we were able to be the team that got us into a district," Allen said. "I'm very excited for the players coming back to have that opportunity. And I will continue to support them through all they do next year and beyond.

<p>When the flag football season began two months ago, Vanguard coach John Miller told his team the goal was to win the Marion County championship. Often unspoken, but always there, was a desire for the Knights to prove they belonged in a district, capable of eventually competing for an FHSAA state title.</p><p>Both dreams became reality on a late-April Saturday afternoon that had cold and wet weather conditions resembling a Friday night in mid-October. There, VHS defeated Forest 35-28, host West Port 40-0 and then Belleview 18-0 to claim the 2013 county championship.</p><p>And soon after the title victory against the Rattlers, the Knights were informed they would be members of a district in 2014.</p><p>"The girls did this," Miller said. "They sacrificed and did everything we asked of them every single day. They never stopped wanting it and working for it.</p><p>"I'm so proud of them."</p><p>Miller had a definite plan in place for Vanguard this year. It included a trip to powerful Ocoee, where the Knights played hard, but lost rather decisively. However, on that day, lessons were learned from strategies like always have a strong option and passing game to subtleties like stretching out the football as your flag is being pulled to get the most yardage possible.</p><p>And as the season progressed, so did the Knights.</p><p>They finished 10-2 and, according to point-guard-turned-quarterback Alex Wilhlem, was a group as memorable for its togetherness as for its success.</p><p>"I played four years of varsity basketball, but I can honestly say, this team was more like a family than any other I've been on," said Wilhelm, who had a 1-yard run and a 22-yard pass to Jamey Thomas for touchdowns against BHS. "I'm so happy to have been a part of it."</p><p>Miller added that a great part of that unity comes from a defense he said "made our offense better each practice", adding "offense may get more attention, but our defense is as much of a reason we won as anything."</p><p>Senior cornerback Kalaia Allen proved to be a prime example of "unselfishness" Miller spoke of when she talked about the future of the program.</p><p>"I won't be here to play in it, but I'm glad we were able to be the team that got us into a district," Allen said. "I'm very excited for the players coming back to have that opportunity. And I will continue to support them through all they do next year and beyond.</p><p>"It's been great to be a part of this team."</p>